Sex offender faces prison for failure to report change in vehicles

Special to the Advertiser

A jury took about 25 minutes March 28 to find a registered sex offender guilty of failing to report a chance in vehicle registration, State Attorney Larry Basford said.

Brian T. Wise, 44, of Bonifay, was found guilty as charged of failure to report a change in vehicle ownership as a sex offender. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts set sentencing for April 17.

Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook is seeking to have the defendant sentenced as a habitual felony offender, which would double the maximum penalty from five years in prison to 10 years. 

Cook provided court records of previous convictions for escape and burglary of a structure. Wise served prison time for a number of offenses, including lewd and lascivious indecent assault on a child under 16 years old, possession of methamphetamine, and felony littering of more than 500 pounds.

“Wise was last released from prison Oct. 5, 2022 on a burglary charge,” a news release from Basford’s office said. “He was arrested on the latest charge in March, 2023, by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.”

During the one-day trial, Cook called two witnesses and entered evidence that when Holmes County sheriff’s deputies encountered him on March 13, 2023, he had a vehicle that was not registered as required.

“Florida law requires sex offenders to meet a number of conditions for public safety, including notifying law enforcement within 48 hours of changing addresses, email addresses, home and cellphone numbers and any changes in vehicles registered in their name,” the news release said.